Polish President Duda and the Baltic states’ presidents participated in the ceremony in Klaipėda, Lithuania, to officially transfer ownership of the floating gas terminal Independence to Lithuania. This terminal is vital for the country’s energy security. Although the terminal had been operating in Lithuania since 2014, it was previously owned by a Norwegian transport company. Following the ceremony on Friday, Independence officially became the property of the Lithuanian state, represented by KN Energies.
“Despite Russia’s efforts, we are stronger and more united than ever; our joint efforts to expand critical infrastructure pay off in the moment of test”, President Andrzej Duda said on Friday during the handover of a mobile gas terminal to Lithuania. “Today, we all see and truly appreciate the timely decision to diversify gas supplies and improve the energy security of our region,” said President Duda, highlighting that Independence is, among other things, an integral part of the Three Seas Initiative.
“The history of the Three Seas Initiative is a history of triumphant implementation of ambitious goals,” noted Duda. “This installation and this special occasion are some of its best chapters”. He also reminded the upcoming summit of the Initiative in Warsaw next year.
During over 1,000 days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “the Kremlin has done much to undermine the stability of the region and our unity,” stressed the Polish President. “And yet we stand here, stronger and more united than ever. We are well prepared to counter Russia’s vile provocations and acts of sabotage. Our joint efforts to expand critical infrastructure, thereby reducing our dependence on a hostile neighbour, are paying off at this trying time,” he said.
“The floating LNG Independence unit under the Lithuanian flag, together with the Poland-Lithuania gas interconnector, the Baltic Pipe, the LNG terminal in Świnoujście and many other valuable projects, significantly contribute to our joint response to Russian intimidation,” said the Polish President.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda highlighted the importance of energy independence for Lithuania and the region’s security. After Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Lithuania quickly severed ties with Russian energy supplies, with Norway now supplying the most significant amount of gas.
Nauseda announced that in the next two months, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, in cooperation with Poland, will disconnect from the Russian energy grid, marking the end of their reliance on Russian energy and beginning a safer, independent future.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Estonian President Alar Karis also stressed the significance of energy independence for the Baltic states. Karis noted that they were among the first to abandon Russian gas after the conflict began and emphasised the need for joint protection of critical infrastructure, including underwater pipelines and cables in the Baltic Sea.
Independence is a gas carrier built by Hyundai in South Korea, with about 170,000 cubic meters capacity. Since 2014, it has operated in Klaipėda as a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), storing and converting liquefied natural gas. For ten years, it has helped Lithuania reduce its dependence on Russian gas, serving as a floating terminal for gas transported by sea.
